Governess

A middle class mother of two daughters, a sister of seven siblings, a philosopher, an author, a translator, a feminist, a victim of depression and family abuse, and an outspoken advocate for women’s education are just a few ways to describe the impactful, inspirational woman that is Mary Wollstonecraft. Mary was born in 1759, in London before the Romantic Era started. From the beginning, Mary lived an impractical life. At 15, she announced she would never marry after growing up sleeping outside…

Jane Eyre was an orphan girl whose childhood was spent at Gateshead with her Aunt and cousins. Since the beginning Jane new that she was different from her cousins making her being mistreated. The poor treatment that Jane received from her aunt Mrs. Reed and cousins makes her feel alone and wanting to belong somewhere where she would feel love and a sense of equality. “Take her away to the red-room, and lock her in there” (6). This shows how Jane was sent to the red-room every time she…

A girl named Mary Lennox was a very disagreeable-looking child and had been born in India and had always been ill. Her mother did not want her and handed her to a servant Ayah to take care of and the child grew up spoiled and a little monster. A sickness had taken the mansion and many of the servants had died including Ayah and Mary was left alone in the nursery. Mary Lennox was abandoned in the nursery and her mother died and all the nurse left. Mary Lennox is sent away to her uncle in England…

the Screw by Henry James, the governess’ sanity is constantly questioned. James initially displays the governess as a lovely agreeable woman, then adds aspects to her character that may be seen as insane. However, as a whole, the governess’ actions and character traits confirm her sanity. The governess is sane because she tries to protect the children and makes rational decisions. Furthermore, she is not the only one that senses the ghosts. Since the governess’ only goal is to protect the…

The Governess Brides are a series of historical novels and one of American born author Christina Dodd’s most popular series of novels. The first novel in the series was Rules of Surrender that was first published in the year 2000. That Scandalous Evening that was published in 1998 is not part of the series though many of the characters in the series make an appearance in the novel. The series of novels is set in the Distinguished Academy of Governesses where young women pursue a career of…

Turn of the Screw, the insane governess undeliberately strangles Miles in an attempt to be his hero and save him from the ghosts she is hallucinating. The governess soon becomes delusional after arriving at the estate and begins to hallucinate and sees two ghosts, a man and a woman. After her first sighting of the man in the tower, she speaks with another worker, Mrs. Grose, and they decide that it is the ghost of a previous servant, Peter Quint. After the governess’ next sighting, this time of…

Mrs Grose on the way to see the Master while in the Cart with Flora, recalling the terrible things the Governess has done. Mrs Grose intends to expose the Governess to the Master: I too should share the blame, my incompetence was extreme. In way I indeed was an accomplice, I spurred on her treacherous thoughts and even worse in fact, I intensified them. However, she [the governess] was insane. The belief she held that my dear and innocent Miles and Flora held evil nature was preposterous. I have…

woman narrates her experiences with two ghosts as a governess in Bly. Her beliefs and actions regarding the two ghosts, Miss Jessel and Peter Quint, have caused controversy about her sanity. The governess is insane because she sees things that other characters cannot see, experiences paranoia due to harmless ghosts, and designates her thoughts regarding the ghosts as more important over the welfare of the children, Miles and Flora. The governess stands alone in her perception of ghosts, and this…

The State of the Governess’ Mind The literary choices made by Henry James in The Turn of the Screw cultivates a numerous amount of theories to the stumping question: are the ghosts the governess sees real, or are they symptoms of her insanity? As the story goes, a sheltered young woman is hired on as a governess for a charming man’s niece and nephew, with the instructions to never contact him again. While staying at the estate of Bly, the governess sees two ghosts and claims that they are…

as the governess tells the story. But how reliable is the information she is giving us? Can she be trusted or is the information that she is giving the reader a lack of evidence. Although the narrator of this novel is not introduced formally. The person who is telling this story is the governess. Who also is in charge of taking care of two kids named Flora and Miles. The governess grows suspicion of the children early in the novel. This is seen during a conversation between the Governess and Mrs…